These Middle-Aged Women Are Redefining What It Means To Be Sexy

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 9: Shannon Colleary poses for a portrait in New York on Tuesday Feb. 9, 2016. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post) *** Local Caption ***

When you type the word "sexy" into a Google image search, you're greeted with endless thumbnails of young women. Each of these girls is scantily clad in some kind of lingerie or swimsuit, flaunting her small waist, big boobs, and soft skin. Though some of these images showcase diversity in ethnicity and body type (model Ashley Graham appears once or twice, for example), none of them appear to be older than the age of 30—if even that.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 4: Pamela Madsen poses for a portrait in New York on Thursday Feb. 4, 2016. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post) *** Local Caption ***

Damon Dahlen/Huffington Post

"The Huff/Post50 section of The Huffington Post is all about inspiring people over 50 to be all they can be," Shelley Emling, the editor behind the piece, told SELF."With that in mind, we wanted to do a photo essay that shows just how sexy, sassy, and inspiring women over 50 can be. So often the media equates beauty and energy with youth—and it’s this kind of thinking we wanted to change."

48-year-old Sheryl Roberts discusses her struggle to find her voice within the modeling industry—a world that can be heavily focused on trends and appearances. 50-year-old Shannon Bradley-Colleary reveals that she found power in saying "yes" and pushing herself to try new things. And 59-year-old Anne Rosenberg opens up about closeting her sexuality when she was younger—when being more flirtatious would have been deemed socially appropriate—and working to reveal it now—when people expect her to keep her sexual confidence hidden. These not only a few of the many stories The Huffington Post tells with this piece, but they're also a fraction of the many stories women across the world have to offer.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 22: Anne Rosenberg poses for a portrait in New York on Monday Feb. 22, 2016. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post) *** Local Caption ***

Damon Dahlen/Huffington Post

"As a woman over 50, it’s important to me that women not start to feel invisible once they cross the big 5-0 threshold," Emling told SELF*.* "Women over 50 have a lot to say ... They are embarking on new relationships and rediscovering their sexuality, many after failed long-time marriages."

Some of the women who participated in the photo series blog for The Huffington Post, and others were found through word-of-mouth. The women were told to wear whatever makes them feel "beautiful and sexy," and they did their own hair and makeup. The result is a diverse spread of women showcasing their personal brands of beauty—be it through a set of lingerie or a pair of leggings. Many of the women were photographed in their own homes to maximize comfort.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Robin Hoffman poses for a portrait in New York on Friday Feb. 26, 2016. (Photo by Damon Dahlen, Huffington Post) *** Local Caption ***

Damon Dahlen/Huffington Post

Emling told SELF she anticipates discussions of similar projects in the near future. The team might expand the project to include more women, and they've also talked about doing a piece with women and men older than 50 doing "unexpected things." "Our whole message is that it’s never too late," she said.